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Race-week decisions first: bib pickup, start logistics, the course, aid, finish, recovery and every official deadline.

Race guide

Race-week essentials

The answers most runners need this month, with the next step for each. Full details and sources are in the sections below.

Official NYRR (New York Road Runners)Race edition: 2026

Race day

  • Sunday, November 1, 2026. The distance is 26.2 miles (42.195 km).
  • Mile Commons tipClocks go back one hour at 2 a.m. on race morning, when U.S. daylight saving time ends. Check any alarm that does not update itself.

Expo and bib pickup

  • Javits Center (11th Avenue, West 35th–36th Streets), Thursday October 29 to Saturday October 31. In person only, with photo ID and your runner confirmation email.
  • Thursday and Friday 10 a.m.–8 p.m. (bib pickup ends 7:30 p.m.); Saturday 9 a.m.–5 p.m. (bib pickup ends 4:30 p.m.).
  • Next step: pick a bib-pickup time slot in your NYRR account before Saturday, October 31 at 4:00 p.m. ET.

Getting to the start

  • Transport choices closed September 8. NYRR assigns your departure time by pace. Take the mode and time you were assigned: switching risks missing your wave and a warning or penalty.
  • Ferry: Whitehall Terminal to St. George, then a bus to the start. NJ bus: MetLife Stadium Parking Lot K, arrive 15 minutes early.
  • Pending confirmationNYPL bus riders: NYRR's pages currently differ on the boarding corner and arrival time. Use the details in your own NYRR instructions and arrive early.Where to check: NYRR (New York Road Runners) — Make Your Transportation, Baggage, and Expo Selections Today! (opens the organizer's site in a new tab) · checked October 20, 2026
  • No bag check at the start. Only the clear start-village bag from the Expo is allowed in.

Waves and start rules

  • Wave starts 9:10, 9:45, 10:20, 10:55 and 11:30 a.m.; corrals close at 8:45, 9:25, 10:00, 10:40 and 11:15 a.m. NYRR says start times are subject to change.
  • You may move to a later (slower) wave or corral, never an earlier one. Starting early can mean disqualification.

On course and at the finish

  • Water and Gatorade at every mile from 3 to 25 except 5, 7 and 9; Maurten gels at miles 12 and 18. New in 2026: a short reroute in the Bronx.
  • After the line: medal, poncho and recovery bag. Family Reunion is on West 69th–71st Streets, 11 a.m.–6 p.m., grouped by surname.

Race-day decision checklist

Built only from facts already in the guide below. Every item links to its full section; official items also link to NYRR. Mile Commons advice remains clearly labeled as a tip.

Official details here last checked October 20, 2026. Next re-check due by November 3, 2026.

Night before

Race morning, by time block

Start village

On course

Finish & after

Latest updates

Dated race news, each labeled with where it comes from.

Official NYRR (New York Road Runners)Race edition: 2026

The 2026 finisher medal

  • NYRR unveiled the 2026 finisher medal on October 7. It celebrates 50 years of the five-borough course, first run in 1976, and 50 years of New York City Marathon finisher medals.
  • Zinc with an electroplated gold finish, 3.5 inches (about 8.9 cm) wide — slightly larger this year — with a center medallion the same 2.12-inch size as 2025. A sculptural, sunburst-shaped circle of skyline shows the five bridges runners cross.
  • The ribbon nods to 1970s design and carries the race logo, the 50th-anniversary mark and each of the five boroughs.
  • Mile Commons tipPhotos: NYRR's linked release shows the medal. We do not reproduce NYRR's photos until reuse permission is confirmed, and we could not verify an official separate back-view photo as of October 8.

Bib numbers and wave assignments

  • Runner reportsAn earlier runner report is out of date and is no longer shown.
  • Officially, NYRR sends each runner a checklist email with wave and corral placement, and your bib shows your wave, color and corral.
  • Mile Commons tipMile Commons cannot see or change your NYRR assignment.

Overview

The essentials for race weekend in one place. Official facts are NYRR's, summarized by Mile Commons and linked to the exact NYRR page. Mile Commons is an independent runner community, not affiliated with NYRR (New York Road Runners), the race organizer.

Official NYRR (New York Road Runners)Race edition: 2026

At a glance

  • Race day is Sunday, November 1, 2026. The distance is 26.2 miles (42.195 km).
  • Runners start in five waves, the first at 9:10 a.m. and the last at 11:30 a.m. NYRR notes start times can change.
  • 2026 is the 50th anniversary of the five-borough course, and the course has its first change in 15 years: a short reroute in the Bronx.

Entry & registration

How runners got into the 2026 race, what is still possible, and the cancellation rules. Official entry happens only with NYRR.

Official NYRR (New York Road Runners)Race edition: 2026

Ways in for 2026

  • 2026 entry routes included the drawing, 9+1 and other guaranteed-entry programs, official charity partners, and International Tour Operators (for runners who are not full-time U.S. residents).
  • The drawing is complete. NYRR lists an official charity partner as the remaining way in, and, for non-U.S. residents, a package with guaranteed entry from an official International Tour Operator.

Cancel or defer

  • Cancel online by 11:59 p.m. ET on Saturday, October 31, or in person at the Expo (October 29–31, 2026). Entry fees are non-refundable.
  • Cancelling earns guaranteed (paid) entry for the following year — unless your 2026 entry itself came from cancelling in 2025.

Mile Commons is not race entry

  • Mile Commons tipJoining a Mile Commons community program never gets you a bib and does not change anything about your NYRR entry.

Important dates

Every key date for NYC 2026 in one list, each labeled with where it comes from. Official dates link to the NYRR page they were read from.

Official NYRR (New York Road Runners)Race edition: 2026

All dates and times are local to New York City.

Coming up

  • Kids Kickoff

    Upcoming
    When

    A free youth event that opens marathon week.

  • Expo and bib pickup

    Upcoming
    When

    In-person bib pickup at the Javits Center with photo ID and your runner confirmation email. See the Expo section for hours.

  • Bag pre-check drop-off

    Upcoming
    When

    If you chose bag pre-check, drop your official bag on Central Park West, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. both days.

  • Dash to the Finish Line 5K

    Upcoming
    When

    NYRR's race-week 5K through Midtown and Central Park. Separate registration.

  • Expo time-slot selection closes

    Upcoming
    When

    Last moment to choose a bib-pickup time slot in your NYRR account, 4:00 p.m. ET.

  • Online cancellation deadline

    Upcoming
    When

    Last chance to cancel online, 11:59 p.m. ET. Fees are non-refundable.

  • Race day

    Upcoming
    When

    The 2026 race: 26.2 miles.

Dates to be announced

  • Mile Commons community activities

    To be announced
    When
    To be announced
    Source
    Mile Commons (not official)

    Any Mile Commons meetups for NYC 2026 will be listed here with their dates once scheduled. Nothing is scheduled yet.

  • Mile Commons community sign-up opens

    To be announced
    When
    To be announced
    Source
    Mile Commons (not official)

    Sign-up for a Mile Commons community program around NYC 2026 — not official race entry. The opening date is not set yet.

Awaiting confirmation

  • Marathon Monday

    Not yet confirmed
    When
    Not yet confirmed by NYRR (New York Road Runners) for 2026.The organizer's page does not yet show that this applies to the 2026 race, so we do not show it as an official 2026 detail.
Earlier dates (5)

  • Drawing applications

    Past
    When

    Application window for the non-guaranteed drawing.

  • Entry drawing

    Past
    When

    The 2026 drawing took place. It is complete.

  • Name on your bib

    Past
    When

    Deadline to add your name to your race bib.

  • Placement-time deadline

    Past
    When

    Last day for newly registering runners to submit a placement time for wave assignment, 5:00 p.m. ET.

  • Transportation and bag pre-check selections close

    Past
    When

    Last day to choose your transport mode and whether to pre-check a bag, 11:59 p.m. ET.

Expo & bib pickup

When and where to pick up your bib, what to bring, and how to plan the visit around your travel.

Official NYRR (New York Road Runners)Race edition: 2026
  • Action deadlineChoose a bib-pickup time slot in your NYRR account; slot selection closes Saturday, October 31 at 4:00 p.m. ET.Source: Make Your Transportation, Baggage, and Expo Selections Today!

When and where

  • Javits Center, 11th Avenue between West 35th and 36th Streets, Thursday October 29 to Saturday October 31.
  • Thursday and Friday 10 a.m.–8 p.m. (bib pickup ends 7:30 p.m.); Saturday 9 a.m.–5 p.m. (bib pickup ends 4:30 p.m.).

What to bring

  • Pick up in person with photo ID and your runner confirmation email. No one else can collect your materials for you.
  • At the Expo you receive your bib and race shirt.
  • The clear start-village bag you get at the Expo is the only bag allowed into the start area.

Plan your visit

  • NYRR expects the longest lines Thursday 10 a.m.–noon and Friday 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
  • Mile Commons tipFlying in? Aim to land by Friday. Saturday pickup ends at 4:30 p.m., so a delayed Saturday flight can cost you your bib.

Getting to the start

How runners reach the start on Staten Island, and what the start village is like.

Official NYRR (New York Road Runners)Race edition: 2026

Your assigned ride

  • New in 2026: runners chose a mode (Staten Island Ferry, NYPL bus, or NJ Meadowlands bus) by September 8, and NYRR assigns the departure time based on pace.
  • Taking a different mode or time risks missing your wave and can lead to a warning or penalty. Runners who did not choose get limited options at the Expo.

The three options

  • Ferry: free ferry from Whitehall Terminal (Lower Manhattan) to St. George, then a free bus to Fort Wadsworth — about 90 minutes in total. NYRR recommends it if you expect to finish in 4 hours or more.
  • NYPL bus: leaves from the New York Public Library in Midtown Manhattan; about 90 minutes to the start.
  • Pending confirmationNYPL bus boarding corner and arrival time: NYRR's own pages currently give different details, so we do not print a corner here. Follow the boarding point and arrival time in your NYRR transportation instructions.Where to check: NYRR (New York Road Runners) — Make Your Transportation, Baggage, and Expo Selections Today! (opens the organizer's site in a new tab) · checked October 20, 2026
  • Mile Commons tipWhichever corner your instructions give, plan to be there at least 30 minutes before your departure. Race-morning crowds around the library are heavy.
  • NJ bus: from MetLife Stadium Parking Lot K, about 60 minutes; arrive 15 minutes early.
  • Private drop-off is at McClean Avenue and Ocean Avenue. The Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge closes to all traffic at 7:00 a.m.

In the start village

  • Only the clear official start-village bag is allowed into Fort Wadsworth, and there is no bag check at the start for transport to the finish.
  • There are 1,600+ toilets in the villages and corrals, plus sports drink, coffee, tea, hot cocoa and bagels while supplies last.
  • Mile Commons tipExpect a long, often cold wait outdoors. Bring old warm layers you are happy to leave behind.

Waves & corrals

How start waves and corrals work, and the rules around them.

Official NYRR (New York Road Runners)Race edition: 2026

How the start works

  • Five waves, three start colors (blue, orange, pink), and six corrals per wave. Wave and corral placement arrives in your checklist email.
  • Wave starts: 9:10, 9:45, 10:20, 10:55 and 11:30 a.m. Corrals close at 8:45, 9:25, 10:00, 10:40 and 11:15 a.m. respectively.

Rules to know

  • You may move to a later wave or corral, never an earlier one. Starting early can mean disqualification.
  • Friends in different corrals can start together by all going to the later corral and wave.

Course

What is new on the route this year, where it ends, and the time limits.

Official NYRR (New York Road Runners)Race edition: 2026

The route

  • New for 2026: after the Willis Avenue Bridge the course takes East 135th Street, Alexander Avenue, East 141st Street and Third Avenue, then East 138th Street to the Madison Avenue Bridge.
  • The finish is at 67th Street on West Drive in Central Park.

Time limits

  • The course stays open for a 16-minute-per-mile pace, counted from the last wave's start. Slower runners may be moved to sidewalks or offered the sweep bus.
  • Finishers through 10:00 p.m. ET are recorded as official finishers. Riding the sweep bus means no official finish.
Read Mile Commons' course overview, elevation framing & runner notes

Aid stations & medical

What is on the course and where, so you can train with it.

Official NYRR (New York Road Runners)Race edition: 2026

Fluids and fuel

  • Water and Gatorade Endurance (lemon-lime) at every mile from 3 to 25, except miles 5, 7 and 9.
  • Maurten gels at miles 12 and 18 (limited supply — carry your own), bananas at mile 21, and refill stations at miles 8, 14, 17, 20 and 23.
  • Mile Commons tipPractice with the on-course drink and gel on your long runs, not for the first time on race day.

Medical and toilets

  • Medical aid stations about every mile from mile 3 and at the finish. Portable toilets, including accessible ones, every mile from mile 3.

Finish & post-race

What happens after the line, how to get out, and Marathon Monday.

Official NYRR (New York Road Runners)Race edition: 2026

After the line

  • Every finisher gets a medal, a post-race poncho and a recovery bag.
  • Runners leave the park at West 77th Street, then exit at West 76th, 75th or 74th Street — or continue south to Family Reunion.
  • Phone networks may be saturated near the finish. Agree on a meeting spot away from the runners-only area in advance.

Pre-checked bags

  • If you pre-checked a bag, pick it up on Central Park West in the West 70s after you finish, until 7:00 p.m. Unclaimed bags move to the NYRR RUNCENTER for pickup on Monday, November 2.

Marathon Monday

  • Not yet confirmed by NYRR (New York Road Runners) for 2026.The organizer's page does not yet show that this applies to the 2026 race, so we do not show it as an official 2026 detail.

Shakeout runs

Easy running during race week.

Official details here last checked October 20, 2026. Next re-check due by November 3, 2026.

Recovery

The first days after the race.

Official details here last checked October 20, 2026. Next re-check due by November 3, 2026.

After race day

  • OfficialNot yet confirmed by NYRR (New York Road Runners) for 2026.The organizer's page does not yet show that this applies to the 2026 race, so we do not show it as an official 2026 detail.Source: NYRR (New York Road Runners) — Marathon Monday (opens the organizer's site in a new tab) · checked October 20, 2026
  • Mile Commons tipPlan an easy walking day before a long flight home, and keep sightseeing light on Monday.

Out-of-town & international runners

Practical notes if you are travelling in for the race.

Official details here last checked October 20, 2026. Next re-check due by November 3, 2026.

Clocks change on race day

  • Mile Commons tipU.S. daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. on Sunday, November 1 — race day. Clocks go back one hour. Phones update themselves; a manual watch or hotel alarm clock may not.
  • Mile Commons tipAll times on this page are New York time.

International runners

  • OfficialRunners who are not full-time U.S. residents can enter through an official International Tour Operator.Source: NYRR (New York Road Runners) — Run in 2026 (opens the organizer's site in a new tab) · checked October 20, 2026
  • Mile Commons tipBring the same photo ID you travel with (for most visitors, your passport) to the Expo.

Race-weekend weather

Weather can affect both runners and supporters. Use the National Weather Service forecast for Central Park and check NYRR for official race-day advisories.

Race-day forecastSunday, November 1

No race-day forecast yet: National Weather Service (NWS) has not published one. Its forecasts reach about 7 days ahead.

Daily forecast

  1. Fri, Oct 30

    Not yet in the National Weather Service (NWS) forecast.

  2. Sat, Oct 31

    Not yet in the National Weather Service (NWS) forecast.

  3. Sun, Nov 1Race day

    Not yet in the National Weather Service (NWS) forecast.

Forecast by National Weather Service (NWS) for Central Park, Manhattan (near the finish). Last updated by National Weather Service (NWS) Oct 23, 2:58 AM EDT.

National Weather Service (NWS) is the authoritative source for this forecast. Mile Commons shows it here as published; it does not produce, adjust, or verify forecast values.

This is the forecast for one point. Conditions elsewhere on the course can differ.

See the NWS forecast for Central ParkOfficial source; opens in a new tab.

Check official race-day advisoriesOfficial source; opens in a new tab.

Sources and last check

Every official page this guide summarizes, and the day we last checked it.

Sources and last check (15)

How to read this page

Official facts, community tips, and freshness
  • OfficialOfficial: Mile Commons' short summary of a fact from NYRR (New York Road Runners), the race organizer. Each one links to the exact page it came from. The organizer's page always wins if anything differs.
  • Mile Commons tipMile Commons tip: our own runner advice. Never official.
  • Personal to youPending confirmationPersonal to you / Pending confirmation: details we deliberately do not state, because they differ per runner or are not yet confirmed. Check them where the item says.
  • Runner reportsRunner reports: what runners say they have seen, with the date. Never an organizer announcement.

We re-check official pages regularly. If a check is overdue, or a page does not show that it applies to this year's race, we hide that official detail and point you to the organizer's page instead. A detail with a known conflicting report is marked “Conflicting information”.

Mile Commons is an independent runner community. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting for NYRR (New York Road Runners).